Raising Ducks: Top 10 Reasons

We’re obviously slightly biased, but ducks can be a great addition to your family. They provide delicious eggs, but beyond that, these friendly goofballs are an endless source of comedic entertainment. In our humble opinion, here are the most important reasons to choose ducks.

1. Hardy

Ducks are living the USPS motto. Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these bug hunters from the swift completion of their appointed rounds. It’s true when going head-to-head with other poultry, ducks reign supreme for their hardiness in cold and hot weather.

2. Pest Control

Other poultry will pick and peck, but only the duck will slurp down a tasty toad or dine on a small mouse. They are the most opportunistic omnivores you’re ever met. Be careful because ducks might try to eat something that isn’t safe for them. If you need help deciding what plants are safe, check out can I feed my duck?

3. Garden Fertilizer

Unlike chicken manure that can take months to cure, duck manure can be used straight from the coop. There are no long wait times to make sure it’s safe to use. It’s a straight shot from the butt to the garden bed. Your plants will love the nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium-rich boost.

4. Entertainment

Have you ever seen a chicken cannonball into a pond? Yah, we haven’t either, but we’ve seen our ducks do it multiple times a day. From their little weeble wobble walk to webby feet slaps on wet cement, ducks are guaranteed to make you laugh and or smile.

5. Nutritious Eggs

When compared to chicken eggs, duck eggs are higher in fat and boast a more concentrated egg-like flavor. There are most vitamins packed into a duck egg along with a larger yolk to white ratio. Another bonus is that people who may suffer from egg allergies can safely eat duck eggs without an allergic reaction.

6. Healthy

Duck’s 24/7 pool party personality also helps with external pest control. They’re less likely to get a disease or have ticks, mites, or other parasites hanging out under their feathers. Their slick, waterproof feathers help them stay dry and warm while any pests that dare to hang on easily get washed away with every dive or dip.

7. Mellow Attitude

Rounded bills replace sharp-pointed beaks. Webbed feet are swapped in for long talons, and drakes aren’t dressed with intimating spurs. Ducks’ rolly polly bodies compliment their mellow, friendly attitudes. Some might be more skittish than other duck breeds, but we’ll take that over a chicken or rooster with a bad attitude any day.

8. Appreciate Farmers

If you decide to raise a few ducks or a large flock, you’re going to truly learn what it takes to produce food. The people who choose to wake up every day with the sole purpose of growing or producing food for everyone else is severely undervalued. You’ll start to get a deeper understanding of their sacrifice, dedication, and multi-generational knowledge.

9. Know Your Food

How amazing is it to know exactly where your food came from? Talk about going hyper-local with something straight from your backyard. Even better, you know how your food was raised. You can make a choice to feed your flock high-quality organic and natural food and know they were treated with the respect and love all animals deserve.

10. Kid-Friendly

You’ll never have to worry about leaving ducks around children. Even if things did get a little spicy between them, the worst-case scenario is a potato chip clip-like bite on a finger. There might be tears, but it’s only because it was startling versus injuring.

Learn more about what to expect when ducklings come home the first day, then grow into mature ducks with our growth and feed timeline.